One of the most enjoyable games of football I’ve seen was Italy’s semi-final with co-hosts Holland at Euro 2000.

After netting 12 goals in their previous three games the Dutch were strong favourites and their potent attack earned them plenty of fans outside the Amsterdam ArenA and their homeland.

But, on the night, they were frustrated, rejected, and ultimately knocked out by the massed ranks of Italy’s defence. The Azzurri rode their luck – Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off early on and Holland hit the post twice, once from the spot, and had another penalty saved before their inevitable shoot-out failure – but whether Italy deserved it or not was irrelevant. Their victory was brilliantly engrossing.

The point of this recollection – if indeed there needs to be one – is to illustrate a game of football does not need to finish 4-4 to be enjoyable, while eight goals shared equally is undoubtedly a good afternoon’s entertainment it’s definitely not a reliable guarantee of quality.

The record 41 goals scored in the Premier League last Saturday showed the English top-flight is home to some fantastic forwards and plenty of great attacking play.

It also reminded us tactical suicide (good morning Blackpool) and slapdash defending (I’m looking at you Sunderland, Arsenal, West Brom, Blackburn, Newcastle…) are also prevalent themes. The characteristic which makes the Premier League such a successful export is its vibrant attacking philosophy, which is obviously the way we like it.

It’s why the likes of Gary Lineker were salivating last Saturday night, and why Dimitar Berbatov or Carlos Tevez are more likely to win Player of the Year than their rock-steady defensive team-mates Nemanja Vidic and Vincent Kompany.

But a goal, like most things in life, is most enjoyable when you’ve really had to earn it.